Free floated at the factory................... Tell your mates - NO! Free floating at the muzzle was a wartime relaxation at Unit level only for a period to cater for a shortage of - or incorrectly made replacements. Later there was a repair policy so that fore-ends that were otherwise serviceable but low at the muzzle bearing could be repaired with an insert That's according to our EMER's/the bible but your frieldly folks might nkow different. But the NZicon and UKicon EMER bible was the same

When you say that your sporterised rifle is mint........... It can't be mint can it? Or do you mean that the bore is mint?